Police: Stalker planned wedding for her, victim

Updated 12:08 pm, Thursday, March 8, 2012

A Des Moines woman accused of planning to wed a man she relentlessly followed for more than a year has been charged with felony stalking.

King County prosecutors contend Madeline Ann Desmet went so far as to order a wedding ring and reserve a Seattle courtroom for the ceremony before she was arrested in late February. Having been convicted of stalking previously, she’s now again charged with the crime.

Desmet, 64, met her alleged victim in early 2010 and soon after professed her “undying love” for him, Seattle Police Detective Nathan Janes told the court. The man said he wasn’t interested in her romantically, but she began following him.

After months of harassment, the man obtained a court order against Desmet, Janes told the court. Still, the detective continued, she kept trying to contact him by mail and phone, then tried to set up a wedding for them.

In December 2011, workers at the Seattle Municipal Court contacted the man about plans to have a judge there wed him and Desmet, according to charging papers. Then the man received a call from a Jared jewelry store asking him to pay for a wedding ring Desmet had selected for their joining.

Speaking with police, the man said Desmet’s behavior has forced him to change the way he goes about his daily life.

“He believes that she is delusional with mental health issues,” Janes told the court. “Because of her behavior towards him and his beliefs about her mental stability, he is afraid that sooner or later she will snap; that her ‘love’ for him will turn violent.”

The detective noted the man turned over to police 57 letters sent by Desmet.

Seattle officers arrested Desmet on Feb. 28.

Questioned by officers, she allegedly admitted to knowing of the anti-harassment order against her but argued it was not authentic because someone had taken it from her home. She allegedly went on to contend the man had pursued her online.

Desmet was initially jailed on $50,000 bail, but was released Saturday after posting bond. She has not yet entered a plea.